April / May '06
 
Two sponsors have made this issue possible:

Happy Easter
and have a
Safe Spring Break

Community Spirit: Thank you for contributing your time and energy to this community. Whether you support one of Kenaston's many volunteer organizations, your church, your school, or attend any of our fund raising activities, it is this involvement that continues to sustain our community in very important ways. If you love the place you live, others will join you. Kenaston can continue to grow, attracting numbers to the community which will only add to the quality of life we have here. We welcome all of our newcomers who we hope will never be shy about approaching the chamber or any community organization for involvement. Volunteering in this community is a sure way to meet people, and feel at home

Earth Balloon Day: The Earthcare Balloon - you've never seen anything like it! Students will be amazed by how "cool" it is. It's an accurate and detailed model of the earth measuring 5.2 m (17 feet) high. From the outside, the recognizable land masses and water bodies can be found along with distinguishable geographic features such as mountains, deserts and more. Inside the Earthcare Balloon is a display of the diversity of the world's ecosystems at a glance. Phone the school to book into one of the demonstration on April 12th.

Tourism Campaign: Winners of our Raffle to generate funds for water tower repairs are:
Colleen O'Handley - Feather Quilt;
Robert Westman - Water Tower Sketch

Souvenir items are often requested at our local businesses. If you have an idea for a salable item, put together your plan (item, availability, and pricing) and approach a local business. While we are aware that Kenaston does need promotional items, at this time the Chamber cannot afford to get involved.

Kenaston's Recycle Bins: The bins behind the co-op are for paper, tin cans, glass and cardboard. Residents of the RM can also use these bins if they pay the $25.00 annual fee to village office. The Village bin by the old firehall can be rented for items too large for household bins; $5 for ½ bin, $9 full bin load. RM residents can also rent bin space. The key is held at village office. Residents are reminded to take care of household bins and move them back from the curb, as charges apply for damage.

****Tenders are being accepted for Wheatland Library janitorial and grounds keeping services****

Kenaston Crossroads: Next issue June/July. The Chamber is now accepting 2 sponsors per issue in order to cover complete cost, (both the copying and the postage) which is approximately $60 per issue. The newsletter will usually appear in your mailbox sometime during the 1st week of every second month. To sponsor an issue of your community newsletter (approximately $30.00, or $60.00 if you wish exclusive sponsorship) please contact the newsletter team Glen Pavelich 252-2711, or Susan Anholt 252-2769.

 


Eldon & Theresa Owens
Wishing You A Happy Easter

Al Hoffmann Insurance
For all your insurance needs
Serving the community since 1911

Announcements and Coming Events

  • April 10th: Annual Credit Union Dinner and General Meeting, Kenaston Place 6 p.m.
  • April 11th: Dessert Theatre at the Kenaston School. 7:00 p.m.
  • April 12th: Earth Balloon Day; Kenaston School all day.
  • April 14-24th: School break
  • April 22nd: Firemen's Ball. Steak supper with dancing and firemen awards to follow. Tickets $10-$12 available from CJ's, Co-op, or from any firemen. 5:30 p.m.
  • April 27th: Parent Drug Awareness Nite: Kenaston School, 7 p.m.
  • April 28th: SunSmart Presentation for K-8 students.
  • May 3rd: Community Business Plan meeting. 7:30 Kenaston Place.

    Help Plan our Future - May 3rd - 7:30. Kenaston Place. The Kenaston Chamber is proposing that more of the community be involved in the next business plan. The plan presented to the community in 2003 (including business, tourism, future of the school, beautification and community spirit) will be out of date in 2006, and our new plan needs to have a more defined focus. Your input into Kenaston's future efforts is absolutely critical. For this special meeting the chamber and council will give reports to update the community on activities, and the issues we need to be aware of. We will bring in a facilitator from the REDA to ensure that the quality of discussion is high and that we stay on task to create meaningful results. Every community in the greater plains area, facing the same issues of sustainability, must plan for its future. The chamber and council can only act in the best interest of the community if the members share in the understanding of what is at stake. Together we can give a stronger impact to the 2006-2009 Kenaston and District community plan. All those from the village and the surrounding RMs are invited and reps from Kenaston's many committees and boards are also encouraged to attend.

Upcoming Wellness Clinic Hours:
April 10th & 24th; May 8th & 23rd


Real Estate: Your farm land for rent can also be listed on the Kenaston real estate page. We have 9 homes listed and 2 farm lots. Several homes and 1 farm have been sold. We would like to fill our vacancies with new families wanting the quality of life Kenaston has to offer. Send our real estate (www.kenaston.ca) page to any one you know who is considering a move. We are within commuting distance. If you know of other on-line sites where we might list our real estate page please feel free to do so. Listings are free of charge on our website. Your local realtor-assigned MLS number can also be posted with your listing on the Kenaston page. Contact: Susan Anholt 252-2769.

Community Welcome: Our welcoming committee, coordinated by Virgie Nordlee of Victoria Country Gifts (beside the Cafe), would ask anyone with a new neighbor to please let Virgie know so she can make contact with them on behalf of Kenaston. If you are a newcomer to the community (town or RM) do not hesitate to drop in and have a chat with Virgie to ask questions or just to introduce yourself.

Our Website: If you have suggestions which could make our website even more community friendly, or a better promotional tool for Kenaston, please contact Glen Pavelich.

Earth Day - April 22nd (http://www.earthday.net/resources/2006materials/default.aspx)

Whilst there is a powerful scientific, moral and commonsense case to be made for taking action, Earth Day Network feels that there has not been enough focus on how climate change will directly affect communities. As a result, the general public has tuned out. The media has downgraded the story focusing on distant effects, such as thinning ice, not the impacts on the human population and available solutions. Politicians have been reluctant to take action until their constituents ask them to do something. The result of this has been confusion of what is happening and inaction.

We are now experiencing major upheavals in weather, agricultural production, and fresh water availability, as well as a significant rise in sea levels from unrestrained carbon emissions. Some scientists are predicting that rain and snow will increase in some places and decrease in other places. This would lead to floods in some areas and droughts in others. Severe weather, such as heat waves, extreme cold, tornados, wind storms, typhoons, blizzards, etc., may happen more often. Vector borne diseases may spread to new areas. Species of plants, animals, and fish may become extinct as their habitats change.

While we could never stop the natural cycles of warming and cooling in the climate happening we can reduce our own personal contribution There are many things that you as an individual can do.

Here is the list from Earth Day Canada of the top 10 things Canadians can do
right now to help the environment.
http://www.nben.ca/tools/resources/toolsarchives/10things.htm

  • Reduce the junk mail coming to your door.
  • Reduce your energy bill by 30 to 40 per cent by filling in air leaks in your home. Leaks are the number one cause of energy loss in winter and summer.
  • Reduce your car use when possible.
  • Avoid purchasing harmful chemical-laden cleaners, such as detergents, bleaches and disinfectants.
  • Avoid dumping Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) in the garbage and down the drain.
  • Plant native flowers, shrubs and trees around your home, school, office and other buildings.
  • Pick up litter, and report polluters and littered sites to your local government's environment office, provincial environment office or police department.
  • Avoid using disposable products, such as paper towels, plastic cutlery, and foam cups and plates.
  • Never throw out anything before considering how it can be reused.
  • Compost your food scraps (don't compost oily, fatty foods) and yard waste to reduce your garbage by up to 40%.